The Commander and leader Joshua received a single city, which he should thenceforth hold by hereditary right (v. 50). That [city] had a twofold name. One, here, “Thamnath Saara,” in Hebrew “Thimnath Serach”; in the 70, “θαμνασαράχ [thamnasarách].” The other (Judg. 2:9), in the Hebrew “Thimnath Cheres”; in the 70, “θαμναθαρές [thamnatharés]”; and, on account of [their] similarity, or on account of [its] greater clarity, in the Latin [it] is “Thamnath-Sare.” But because each name is composed of two [elements], a various meaning can be accommodated to each from these. For “Thamnath” is either “likeness and image,” as also “Themounath” [is] either “a numbering [enumeration],” from the verb “manach” — from which, by the Arabic article “al” prefixed, [comes] “Almanach,” a table or booklet, in which the motions and effects of the sun and of the other stars are numbered and set forth; or, as “Theman,” [it] is the southern region; or, finally, “perfection,” from “Tham.” But “Sarach” signifies either “superfluous,” “overflowing,” as [if] luxuriating; or “failing, withering, and stinking.” But “Cheres” indicates either “the sun,” or “a potsherd,” or “a dry brick.” All the other interpretations are indicated by others; but this one [is] from Arias: “To this city, from the region’s quarter, [came] the name ‘Thamna,’ that is, ‘Southern’; but from the strong-smell of the trees, and the sterility of the soil, the surname ‘zzarahh’ seems to have been made.” But [it] was in the tribe of Ephraim — which was the same, Joshua’s own, tribe — and indeed on the mountain which (v. 50), just as [in] Judg. 2:9, is called “Mount Ephraim.” But since [there] were several mountains in the same tribe, this was “Mount Gaas” (Judg. 2 & the last ch. of this book, v. 30; 2 Sam. 23:30) — that is, “the mountain of storm, commotion, and tempest” — on whose northern side the same Joshua is handed down [to have been] afterward buried. But the city at that time was rather mean, and altogether badly built — or certainly at that time [so] ruined, that [it] was like a heap of stones, and a corpse of a city. And therefore [Joshua] had need to build it [up], and to render [it] more convenient for dwelling (v. 50). But afterward [it] was so renowned that, in the time of St. Jerome — as he testifies in the book On Hebrew Places — [it] still survived, and in it the tomb of Joshua was shown; and indeed a notable [one], as is added by the same [Jerome], where he treats of “Gaas.” Moreover, when the Romans had divided all Judaea into ten Toparchies, one [was] named from this [city] “Thamnitica” — with Pliny as witness (bk. 5, ch. 14). Yet the place was rough, and nearly horrid [wild], [and] existed [so] not only in ancient [times] but [also] in St. Jerome’s age: “Much,” says he, concerning Paula, in her Epitaph, “did she wonder that the distributor of the possessions had chosen for himself the mountainous and rough [parts].” [That] an image of the sun was placed here — on account of the sun delayed and held back by Joshua in the battle (above, ch. 10:13) — some have wretchedly committed to writing; of whom, if the trust [were] certain, [it] would be probable [that] from thence the name “Thamnatares” [was] later derived. [It] seems to be confused, in the book On Places, with “Themna,” the Danite city, here (v. 43) — from which also, by Chytraeus, [comes] the “Thamnitica” prefecture.
(col. 1203)